It is fitting that the inaugural issue of New England Museums Now explores the theme of museum technology. After all, Museums Now uses technology to distribute NEMA thought leadership to the field in exciting new ways.
What was NEMA News, once the organization’s printed journal, has transformed into a multidimensional, multimedia, multiplatform publication with a groundbreaking interface and enhanced interactivity.
In fact, thanks to our designers and developers at Marquis Design and Atomic Mouse, you’re looking at a whole new way to experience a digital publication. The first thing you probably noticed about Museums Now is the layout and its easy to read, easy to navigate format. Where web pages typically scroll up and down, Museums Now scrolls side to side, just like you’re accustomed to reading. Scroll through pages by clicking on the arrows, clicking and dragging with your mouse or, if you have a touchscreen, using your finger.
Museums Now is designed for maximum interactivity. Links take you quickly to other areas of the publication or let you jump outside the publication for more information. And at the end of each feature article you’ll be able to contribute to the discussion with your feedback and opinions.
Best of all, our web-based format is compatible with literally every desktop, laptop, and mobile platform, so you can enjoy Museums Now everywhere you go.
But Museums Now is more than just a redesign. New content provides you with more ideas, tools, and insights than ever before. Our new “Pulse” section poses a provocative question to museum colleagues for an honest and sometimes honestly funny perspective. Answer a short benchmarking survey and see the results of prior ones in our “Quick Takes” section. Share your views with the NEMA community in “Talk Back.” Check out the best of New England’s blogosphere in “From the Blogs.” And learn a new technique from an expert in “Five Steps or Less.”
Of course, you’ll still be able to access all the features you’ve come to know and love: “From the Region,” “News about NEMA,” “On View” (exhibitions in the region), and “News You Can Use.”
Many months of research, planning, and just plain hard work went into bringing you New England Museums Now. I want to thank all of the NEMA members who participated in focus groups and individual discussions to inform our design and content. Thanks also to the team at Marquis and Atomic Mouse, especially Julie Vail, Taylor Luffman, and Joe Grassia, for their skills and execution. And special thanks to Heather A. Riggs, NEMA’s Communications and Operations Manager, for her stellar project leadership.
I hope you enjoy the Museums Now experience! Tell me what you think at dan.yaeger@nemanet.org.
Dan Yaeger